Momma, I Wanna Be a Bull Rider When I Grow-up…

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Last weekend we had the pleasure of attending the Tuff Hedeman 19th Annual Championship Bull Riding event at the historic Will Rogers Coliseum near downtown Fort Worth.   When the North Texas Chevy dealers offered me tickets, I was all over it like flies on….  like stink on…. ok, like white on rice.

Let me warn you now, I did not get the best pictures. My lens was not ideal for the dark’ish arena.   This is one of those situations where my inexpensive point and click digital camera probably would have given us better pictures. I am not bitter, I promise. It is nothing that a little 1960’s editing effects can’t take care of. 😉

Carry on.

How much do you know about bull riding?  We’re going to take a quiz and let’s see how many you get right.

Question 1

How long does a bull rider have to stay mounted on a bull in order to be qualified for judging?

Answer:

8 Seconds

Look at those guys on that gate. Nothin’ like having your you-know-what in the air as an angry bull flies around an arena. Could you imagine being bucked around on an angry bull, named something like Marshmallow of all things,  for eight seconds? It lasts so much longer than you think. Every time a rider was thrown from the bull I cringed. Oh my gosh this is dangerous! Is he ok? Where is his mother?  

Now, these were grown men, some even married.  A couple of riders wore helmets with face masks. I am sure their momma’s or wife’s had something to do with that knowing that these bulls weigh on average up to 2,000 pounds. That would be like having your car land on you.  

Question 2:

What is Tuff Hedeman’s real name?

Answer:

Richard Hedeman. He was given the name Tuff  after slamming his fingers in the car door as a very young child and not shedding a tear. He has been Tuff ever since, Wikipedia tells me.

If you are a rodeo going, bull riding, spur wearin’ kinda guy than you know Tuff Hedeman is one of the best of the best.   Some of his career story is captured in the movie that shares the story of  Lane Frost, 8 Seconds. Not to be confused with Eminem’s movie 8 Mile. Two very, very different scenarios. And what is Eminem’s real name anyway? Slim Shady? 

Tuff Hedeman is one of only seven men who have ever ridden the dangerous and fierce bull, Bodacious. In 1993 he scored what would be considered exceptionally- 95 points. Two years later Tuff  rode the same bull in the PBR World Finals which ended in a bloody mess.   Tuff’s face collided with the bull’s head and shattered every major bone in his face which required extensive  reconstructive surgery. I think he has earned his name…

Question 3:

How do they make a bull buck?

Answer:

Bulls buck for a couple of reasons.

1.   it is instinct 
2. they have a rider on their back and they want them off
3. flank strap  (the rope around the flank section of the bull which applies controlled pressure that makes the bull buck, similarly to action of the cinching of a riding saddle)

I sure do know this rodeo stuff, don’t I? Just call me Howdy. Cute name, hua? Real bull rider who is pretty established with total earnings over $750,000. (I read the program!)

Question 4:

What is the  official truck of a tuff bull riding cowboy?

Answer:

While I have no scientific research to prove this Chevrolet is greatly loved by Cinch wearing cowboys, the reaction of the crowd and the gaze in the the eyes of those rodeo’ers said it all!

And to the 60 year old lady who knocked the Chevy t-shirt out of my eleven year old son’s hands as it was thrown into the crowd… shame on you. You left a scratch on his hand, too. But I forgive you. I figured out where you were parked… 😉  (kidding, kind of)

Question 5:

Most loved music by rodeo go-ers and bull riders alike?

Answer:

Cody Canada and the Departed

After all the bulls were ridden, Cody Canada and the Departed entertained. (Cody Canada is  formerly of Cross Canadian Ragweed. ) We gathered in the dirt of the arena as children ran and pretended to be bulls and cowboys and we listened to the band. Good times.

Bonus Question- worth 10 points.

What do you do when you see a New York born Puerto Rican wearing a cowboy hat?

Answer:

You should get a rope!

So, how many questions did you get right? Are you a bull riding champ? Oh, and on the way home my eleven year old told me he wants to be a bull rider when he grows up. My response? Only if we can cover you from head to toe in a padded body suit that’s lined with steel. Not sure that would be comfortable, either.